Kings Medical Practice News www.kingmedicalpractice.co.uk

The practice sends a warm welcome to Jayne Thomas who has joined us today as a trainee Advanced Care Practitioner (tACP). When fully trained ACPs are able to see patients on their own, make diagnosis and treat them. Inorder to become trained tACPs attend a University course and have placements in general practice. In general practice they are supervised whilst they develop the skills to become an ACP. Jayne was a paramedic and the practice is very pleased to welcome her to join us.

The NHS has run several campaigns in the last 18 months about the early signs of cancer. If you missed them the messages were: If you notice blood in your pee, even if its 'just the once', tell your doctor Heartburn most days, for three weeks or more could be a sign of oesophageal or stomach cancer - t ell your doctor Feeling bloated, most days, for 3 weeks, could be a sign of ovarian cancer - tell your doctor. If you've had blood in your poo or looser poo for the last 3 weeks, tell your doctor. If you've been coughing for 3 weeks or more, tell your doctor 1 in 4 black men will get prostate cancer, if you have any concerns, tell your doctor. 1 in 3 women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don't assume you're past it. If you notice a lump or changes in your breast, tell your doctor There is more information on the NHS Be Clear On Cancer website - click here for the link. But if you have any of these symptoms or are concerned that you might have sy...

The Department of Health on behalf of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has been given permission to collect anonymised Electronic Fit Note Data from our clinical computer system. The DWP wants to obtain national data about sickness certification to inform government policy. The data collection will commence on Wednesday 27 January, 2016 and will be backdated to December 2014. Data will be collected to the end of August, 2018. The data that will be collected will be anonymous but you have the right to object to your data being used in this way. If you have already completed an opt out not to supply Care.data then your data will not be sent. If you do not wish your data to be used for this purpose then let us know and we will ensure that your data is not sent. To let us know c lick here to email Christine Sanderson, Practice Managing Partner.

The surgery is only closed on the statuary bank holidays (Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day) - we are otherwise open as normal. If you need a doctor when we are closed ring 111 for advice. Our opening times over the Christmas period are: Monday 21/12 - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm Tuesday 22/12 - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm Wednesday 23/12 - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm Thursday 24/12, Christmas Eve - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm Friday 25/12, Christmas Day - closed Saturday 26/12 - closed Sunday 27/12 - closed Monday, Boxing Day Holiday 28/12 - closed Tuesday 29/12 - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm Wednesday 30/12 - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm Thursday, New Years Eve 31/12 - 8.00 am - 6.30 pm New Years Day - closed Saturday  2/1 - closed Sunday 3/1 - closed Monday 4/1 - 8.00 - 6.30 pm In order to ensure that we have sufficient appointments to see people who cannot wait till after the holidays we have organised our appointments so that you cannot make any routine appointments during the Christmas and New Year...

As a practice we are constantly reviewing our prescribing to make sure that are patients are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their medical condition and that we are making the best use of limited NHS funds. Practices in Wakefield have recently review the need to issue paracetamol on prescription when it is only taken on a 'when required' or short term basis. Practices in Wakefield have agreed not to prescribe paracetamol for short courses as patients are able to purchase smaller quantities over the counter form local pharmacies of supermarkets considerably cheaper than it is for the NHS to fund the same amount on prescription. It is shocking but the cost to the NHS is roughly three times what it costs to buy paracetamol from supermarkets. This will mean that the money we would have spent on paracetamol can be used to improve healthcare services locally. This decision has been made by all 40 practices across Wakefield. If you have any questions about this chan...

Its a bit like buses, you can wait ages and then two come along together. This week we have been told about how we can access two online support networks to help people with mental health issues. The first is Big White Wall, click here for the website, and this give peer support for people over 18 with mental health issues. There are outcome measures to show that people who use this for support improve. The support is moderated by Wall Guides so is a safe, anonymous and supportive environment to share concerns and start accessing help. Big White Wall is free to our patients but to access services you need a login. If after looking at the website you think it might be the thing that you might find helpful email me by clicking here and I will sort you our a login. The other is Kooth. This is aimed at children and young people under 16. It is to provide some support for common mental health problems found in children and young people. The site is moderated and has good outcomes for ...

Junior doctors are angry because a new contract will change their normal working week hours from 7 am to 7 pm, Monday to Friday  to 7 am to 10 pm Monday to Saturday. Time they work outside these normal hours are currently paid at enhanced rates. The BMA and Department of Health have been in negotiation for some time but talks broke down in the summer over threats that the health secretary will impose a new contract. The health secretary has said that only 1% of doctors will be worse off, but that is largely because they will protect the pay of junior doctors for the next three years. After that time it is unclear what will happen but the BMA has said that 75% of doctors would be worse off and new junior doctors certainly would be worse off. With these changes the Department of Health is trying to make it cheaper for hospitals to have more junior doctors working unsocial hours and at weekends. But they already do weekend and unsocial hours so junior doctors think they are jus...